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Lending Equal Access Programme (LEAP)

Overview

A fund delivered by Charity Bank, providing flexible and patient repayable finance to social sector organisations. It supports organisations in meeting social or environmental expenditure and aids recovery from COVID-19, with a strong focus on impact and EDI, including targeting investment to more deprived areas.

One of the objectives of this programme is to encourage investment in minoritised-led organisations throughout England. The programme aims to narrow the gap in opportunities and resources for marginalised communities, fostering a more equitable and inclusive landscape. Charity Bank have set a target for the programme to allocate a minimum of 30% of funding to charities and social enterprises founded, led by, or supporting minoritised groups. Additionally, they aim to invest 75% of funding in the most deprived areas in England.

LEAP uses funding from Flexible Finance for the Recovery to enable the provision of long-term, flexible investment products, particularly for organisations where financial returns are uncertain or lower than conventional investment thresholds. 

Partners

  • £3.17 million

    grant committed

  • £8.3 million

    co-investment raised

  • £11.5 million

    total fund size

From Charity Bank's 2023 Impact Report "Thus far, the programme is exceeding its diversity targets. This level of activity underscores the unmet demand for flexible funding in the social market, especially amongst diverse-led and represented enterprises."